JACKSON, MI – Two out of three Jackson voters cast their ballots against the city's proposed stormwater tax on property owners during the primary election Tuesday, Aug. 5.

With 3,207 reported votes – representing 14 percent of the 23,151 registered voters in the city – 2092 voted against the proposed fee, with 1032 voting for it. All 16 city precincts reported their results about 10 p.m.

"I think people are naturally inclined to distrust government," Councilman Derek Dobies, 6th Ward, said. "It came down to a lack of trust."

The ballot language for the proposed stormwater fee did not specify what services would have been provided, or how much they would have cost property owners. City officials claimed property owners could expect to pay about the same as they did when the stormwater fee was in previously in place, or about $28, while business owners would pay a fee hinging on the size and layout of their property.

Derek Dobies

The Jackson County Chamber of Commerce as well as the Jackson County Board of Commissioners both voted in resolutions opposing the stormwater ballot initiative.

"It's politics as usual," Dobies said. "I think cleaning our streets and leaf pickup are still priorities for city residents, and we'll work with them to find a solution to fund these services.

"At this point, (the city) doesn't have any plans for what to do moving forward," he said.

Jackson resident Lavonne Littlejohn was one of the 2,092 who voted against the stormwater fee.

"(City officials) said it would cost about $28, but it could have cost more," she said. "It was a tough call."

After collecting about $1 million a year from city property owners to provide federally-mandated services aimed at keeping rivers and waterways clean beginning in 2011, a court order required the city stop collecting the fee in 2013. It was ruled an illegal tax by the state Court of Appeals because a public vote was not taken on the issue, which violates the Headlee Amendment.